Parents should know the ABCs of special needs trusts

We all want to provide for our children, and perhaps even leave a little something behind to help lighten their load after we’re gone. But when you’re the parent of a disabled child who may outlive you, the importance and complexity of putting financial safeguards in place takes on new meaning.

Developing an Estate Plan for Parents of Children with Disabilities: A 15-Step Approach

Planning ahead seems daunting but if you take it step by step, it is really not so bad! First you organize, then you decide what you want, and then you sign the appropriate documents.

Why A Special Needs Trust Is Crucial For Autistic Children

Many children with special needs rely on government assistance programs such as Medicaid to provide support as they get older. You can provide additional security to your autistic child by setting up a special needs trust (SNT) after you pass.

CalABLE and Special Needs Trusts

An Overview of ABLE and CalABLE accounts, Overview of special needs trusts, Using trusts and ABLE accounts to save money while remaining eligible for SSI and other benefits, and How ABLE and Special Needs Trusts complement each other.

California Special Needs Trusts

Although the disabled child is named a beneficiary of the trust, the assets held in the trust are not counted as his or her available resources because those assets are not within their control. For this reason, a disabled child can have millions of dollars in a special needs trust and they can still qualify for the means-tested SSI or Medi-Cal.

Almost all children with Autism or Down syndrome or another significant disability require a special needs trust because they need to remain eligible for SSI and Medi-Cal either during childhood or adulthood. Once a special needs person qualifies for SSI, the federal needs-based program, they automatically qualify for Medi-Cal. Being qualified for Medi-Cal is critical because income from SSI is not enough to meet an individual’s minimum needs. Since Medic-Cal can pay for hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses for the special needs child before and after the parents’ deaths, without Medi-Cal paying these expenses, such medical costs could otherwise drain a sizeable amount of assets from the child’s family.

Autism Family Grants

Autism is an expensive condition all around. The following are various grants available for families and individuals residing in the United States.

Financial Help w/Housing

This article will introduce you to housing supports for people with autism and other developmental disabilities, and give you tips to help you navigate the process.

Gluten, Casein, Soy Free Diet on Food Stamps

As the cornerstone of biomedical treatment, the Gluten-, Casein- and Soy-Free (GFCFSF) diet has resulted in tremendous progress for more than 90% of children with ASD who’ve tried it. The diet can be done many different ways, ranging from VERY expensive to very cheap it all depends on how much premade food you buy versus making your own meals. We wanted to find out if all of our families could afford this basic treatment so we did an investigation. What we found out surprised us all and we are thrilled to offer this information to the autism community so more families will know they have access to such a vital treatment to help their children. This article is NOT just for those who receive food stamps, but for anyone who wants to save money on the diet.

Support for Families of Children with Disabilities

We provide and maintain up-to-date information and resources to assist families so they can make informed choices for their children, and to educate professionals and the community-at-large in order to promote inclusion and understanding.

State and Federal Financial Support

Autism Action Partnership seeks to maximize our impact and increase inclusion for those on the autism spectrum through targeted grants and services.

Social Security Disability and SSI Benefits for Autism

The required level of severity for autistic disorders is met when the following requirements are satisfied. A doctor must have found the child has:

• deficits in reciprocal social interaction
• deficits in communication and imagination, and
• a restricted repertoire of activities and interests (not needed for Asperger’s syndrome)

Charitable Grants for Individuals w/ Autism

The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two programs that provide benefits based on disability: the Social Security disability insurance program (title II of the Social Security Act (Act)) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program (title XVI of the Act).

Social Security | General Information

Social Security | SSI Guidelines

AVVO | SSI vs SSD “What’s the Difference”

Can I Collect Both SSI and SSDI at the Same Time?

Vacation Financial Assistance: Autism on the Seas

Financial Assistance is awarded in varying amounts to immediate family members only, Parents/Guardian’s, qualifying children/adults and their siblings. We evaluate each application individually to determine the amount of the Financial Assistance to be awarded and based on funding available at time of awarding.

The Helping Hand Program

The Helping Hand Program provides families with financial assistance in getting necessary medical treatments, lab testing, physician-recommended supplements and therapies for their child with autism. This program does not provide funding for iPads, camp tuition, respite care, fencing, trampolines, swingsets, trips to Disney World, etc. Funding is extremely limited. This program is intended ONLY for parents in DIRE financial need. Do not apply if your annual net income exceeds $50,000. Helping Hand grants are one-time grants, previous recipients may not re-apply.

Autism on Public Assistance

We have compiled this list of resources to help families. We will continue to update it as information becomes available.

Autism Family Grants

Autism is an expensive condition all around. The following are various grants available for families and individuals residing in the United States.

Financial Help w/Housing

This article will introduce you to housing supports for people with autism and other developmental disabilities, and give you tips to help you navigate the process.

Gluten, Casein, Soy Free Diet on Food Stamps

As the cornerstone of biomedical treatment, the Gluten-, Casein- and Soy-Free (GFCFSF) diet has resulted in tremendous progress for more than 90% of children with ASD who’ve tried it. The diet can be done many different ways, ranging from VERY expensive to very cheap it all depends on how much premade food you buy versus making your own meals. We wanted to find out if all of our families could afford this basic treatment so we did an investigation. What we found out surprised us all and we are thrilled to offer this information to the autism community so more families will know they have access to such a vital treatment to help their children. This article is NOT just for those who receive food stamps, but for anyone who wants to save money on the diet.

Support for Families of Children with Disabilities

We provide and maintain up-to-date information and resources to assist families so they can make informed choices for their children, and to educate professionals and the community-at-large in order to promote inclusion and understanding.

State and Federal Financial Support

Autism Action Partnership seeks to maximize our impact and increase inclusion for those on the autism spectrum through targeted grants and services.

Social Security Disability and SSI Benefits for Autism

The required level of severity for autistic disorders is met when the following requirements are satisfied. A doctor must have found the child has:

• deficits in reciprocal social interaction
• deficits in communication and imagination, and
• a restricted repertoire of activities and interests (not needed for Asperger’s syndrome)

Charitable Grants for Individuals w/ Autism